Newbie Question

[Big Nasty]

I am starting to reload 40 S&W and I'm looking at a LEE PRO 1000 PRESS. It looks to do it all, but I want to be able to load rifle rounds eventually. Can this be done on that press, or is it factory set with those dies for a .40 cal. It says the press comes with it all so I am a bit worried about this. I want a press that can handle it all, if such a critter even exists.

THANKS
Big Nasty

[smith85619]

I use a Lee 4-hole turrett for my pistol rounds and a RCBS rock chucker for the rifle rounds.  I also have another single stage Lee press and use it mainly for depriming chores.  why do you only want one press to do it all?  that's like having only one gun, not fun at all.

[Big Nasty]

For right now it's a money deal. I am in most demand for .40 right now, but later I will get into the rest.

[Catfish]

All of thr Lee stuff I have ever owned has let me down. Go with a good RCBS Rock Chucker or similar for now, and when money loosens up get a 550 Dillon.

[wncchester]

I have a Rock Chucker but would rather have a Lee Classic Cast turret or single stage.  Not only are they better presses but their spent primer catcher works.  Lee is made in the USA and still costs a LOT less!

[JustaShooter]

I have a Lee Pro 1000 that I use for my 9mm, .45, .38 and .357, and although it will do rifle cartridges I use a single stage for them instead.  You could certainly start out using the progressive for the rifle rounds and move to a single-stage press later, but if it were me, I'd start with a nice singe stage press and add a progressive alter, once you have the basics of reloading worked out.

Just a Shooter

[Dand]

+1 for Justa.  But I think the original poster may not be sure he can switch a  Pro 1000 to a different caliber - you can. I don't know how well they work for the longer rifle rounds. Check and see if they offer the same kit for say 308 or 30-06. Actually, Justa answers that too - he say it can be done.

I do believe that for many progressives, there is a bit of time spent in a caliber switch. Must get all items adjusted and working smooth.

[JustaShooter]

It looks like there is 3 1/2" clearance from the top of the shell plate to the bottom of the turret carrier, so you should be able to do .30-'06 but it might be close.  .308, .243, .223 should be no problem.

For caliber switches, I set up a turret for each caliber and leave it alone, as well as a shell plate and carrier with the correct primer size so that caliber changes are as easy as possible - remove the turret, remove carrier w/shell plate, install new carrier w/shell plate, install new turret, done.  Takes a couple minutes, and no adjustments needed (after setting the caliber up the first time, of course).

If you need to save a couple $$, you can just switch shell plates and save the price of a carrier - saves about $35 per caliber once you have both small and large primer carriers, but takes another couple of minutes to make the switch.  Same for the turrets, save about $11 per caliber and switch dies each caliber change and add a couple of minutes.

Just a Shooter

[KansasPaul]

I purchased a Lee Pro 1000 new from a friend when i first got into reloading.  Before I ever assembled it I chose to sell it and I bought a like new Lee press with scale, powder measure, hand prime and other accessories off an online auction.  I still had enough money left over to purchase a couple of sets of dies. I shoot a lot of different calibers and it is a lot easier to swap out dies on a single stage press.  If you only reload one caliber and you shoot a few of hundred rounds a month then the progressive set-up makes fast work out of reloading. I can tell you that based on feedback from my buddy, it takes some time to get the pro 1000 set up correctly.  I can load 100 rounds of 40 S&W in an hour by working in batches.  I can then swap out dies in about 2 minutes and load rifle cartridges.  I'm happy with my Lee press and recently purchased a hand press for working up loads at my buddies range.  If you really feel a need to have a progressive press, I agree with Catfish that you should get a Dillion 550  - be prepared however for sticker shock as they don't come cheap.

Either way you go, I'm sure that you will find reloading to be fun and rewarding - it will get under your skin!

[P.A. Myers]

Hornaday Lok-N-Load, plus two spartans.

[Steve P]

I had a Lee Pro 1000.  Loaded 10s of 1000s of rounds on it.  Still used the Ram Prime to do my priming because the priming system never did work right.  I had a few mods that I did to mine to get it to work for me.   I sized my brass in station one on the press and used it with the case feeder tubes.  You could resize pistol cases with carbide dies by the 100s per hour.  VERY fast.  When actually loading, I used the powder thru belling die in station one, seated the bullets in station two, and crimped in station three.  Trying to crimp a bullet that is being seated is like trying to close the garage door while you are still driving into the garage.  Just doesn't work. 

I did .223 and 7TCU cartridges on mine also.  This was longest rifle size case you could do.  Spent more time picking up loaded rounds off the floor.  Even with 44 mag and 357 Maximum, the loaded rounds, because they were bullet heavy, flipped out of the press and onto the floor instead of into the bin.

Sold my Lee and bought a Dillon.  That is what I use for progressive reloading now. 

If you can only afford one press, get a GOOD single stage press like an RCBS Rock Chucker or Jr, even a Lee if you must.  A good single stage press is inexpensive and with a few mods on the loading bench, you can load several hundred pistol rounds an hour and even work into rifle loads later. 

In my humble opinion, given to you free of charge, you could buy the Pro 1000 like I did, spend many many hours trying to get it to work, finally get some loaded ammo off of it, enjoy your shooting, and end up kicking yourself later when you find out what a REAL press can do.

Steve

[Bullshop Junior]

One press? thats a joke!

We have
1 Lee Classic Cast Turret
1 RCBS RS3
1 Herters 8 hole Turret press
1 Lyman T6 Turret Press
1 Herters O frame single stage
2 RCBS Rock Chuckers
1 RCBS Junior
1 RCBS RS1
1 Co/axial Press
1 Dillon 550
1 RCBS Load Master
2 Lee hand Presses
Maybe a few more I am not thinking of. And they ALL get used all the time. (Every Day)

[chutesnreloads]

Ask youself if you shoot over 50 rounds OF THE SAME AMMO a week.If the answer is no ,you don't need a progressive press.Yes....then will you shoot over 100 rounds a week?If yes the answer is still only maybe you need a progessive press.I don't shoot anywhere near those quantities.Get by quite fine with three single stage presses and a Lee hand press.These didn't all come at once but now that they're set up they work better than having a progressive press for me.Unless you get into competitive shooting you'll probably be best with a single stage.